Track-sulky



. 2 Sheets Sheet 2. H. A. & T. W. MQINTOSH'.

TRACK SULKY.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug; 8, 1893.

V UNITED STATES PATENT Fr es.

HARRY A. MGINTOSHAND THEODORE W. MOINTOSH, or BROWNSVILLE,

, INDIANA.

TRACK-SULKY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,984, dated August 1893.

Application filed March 7, 1893.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that wa l-LARRY AJMOINTOSH and THEODORE W. McINTosH, ofBrownsville, in the county of Union and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinTrack-Sulkies; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in'the art to which it pertains to make and us e it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

Our invention relates to an improvement in track sulkies and it consists in the novel features of construction and in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and will be fully described hereinafter, and especially referred to in the claims.

The track sulkies now in general use are open to the objection that upon passin garound curves incident to mostrace tracks their shafts impinge the horse on one side at the stifle joint and at the opposite side upon his shoulder in his endeavor to make'the sulky follow the line of draft. A much desired free and easy movement of the body and limbs of the animal is thus defeated in passing these portions of the track. Another objection to the sulkies now in general use is that their wheels slip laterally upon the track when these steep curves are reached, thus dragginglupon the horse and retarding a much desired high rate of speed. 7

Our present invention is directed toward obviating these difticulties by giving the running gear or Wheels of the sulky a pivotal movement in relation with the shafts, which movement is under perfect control of the occupant, whereby he is enabled to change the angle of the wheels at the point upon the track where it is desirable, so that the rear end of the sulky maybe in direct line with the center of draft and all impinging of the horse and slipping of the wheel upon the curves are thereby effectually prevented.

Figure 1, is a perspective view of our improved sulky. Fig. 2, is an inverted plan view of the same the seat and wheels being removed. Fig. 3 is a detached View of a porshaft.

Serial No. 464,960. (No model.)

Fig. 4

and are held in place by the clips F through which they move longitudinally.

G is a shaft extending across the under side of the shafts A and upon its respective ends are the oppositely directed cranks H, which are connected to the forward ends of the respective bars D and E by the rods 1.

J are the footholds for the occupant and arranged immediately beneath one of these on the under side of the shaft A is a double crank K, which at one end is connected to the forward end of the bar E, while its opposite crank is in a convenient position to be depressed by the occupants foot. A normally I contracted coiled spring L is secured at one end to the shaft and at its opposite end to the bar D and in this manner the bar is held normally in a fixed position with relation to the As this bar D and the transverse crank shaft are connected, it will be readily understood that the opposite bar E will also be controlled by the said spring. AbracketL' connccts the shaft brace A with the center of the axle and thus a positive turning point for the latter is provided.

In operation when a left hand curve is reached by the sulky the operator may by depressing the foot shaft or treadle throw backward the right wheel of the sulky and forward the left wheel a corresponding distance, the amount of the said movement depending upon the curvature in the track. Thus the sulky frame is kept in line with the center of draft and the horse is entirely free from the objectionable binding of the shafts before referred to and also by this adjustment of the wheels and axle it is impossible for the former to slip on the track.

It is apparent that in turning right hand curves a reverse of the described operation will secure the desired beneficial results.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi 1. An improved sulky comprising an axle a frame pivotally supported thereon, and a mechanism for turning the axle beneath said frame and at any desired angle to the line of draft, substantially as shown and described.

2. An improved sulky comprising the shafts, bars movable longitudinally thereon, an axle and rod connecting the opposite ends of the axle with the respective bars, substantially as shown and described.

3. An improved sulky consisting of the shafts, an axle, longitudinally movable bars on the shaft which are connected to the opposite endsof the axle, anda means for moving the said bars simultaneously in opposite directions, substantially as shown and described.

4. An improved sulky consisting of the shafts, an axle, bars movable longitudinally on the under side of the shaft, rods connecting the opposite ends of the axle with the said bars, a revoluble shaft extending across the under side of the vehicle shafts, oppositely projecting cranks at the ends of the said revoluble shaft, a connection between the said cranks and the forward ends of the said bars, and a means for rotating the said revoluble shaft, substantially as shown and described.

5. An improved sulky consisting of the shaft, an axle, longitudinally movable bars on the shaft rods connecting the said bars with the axle, and a spring for holding the said bars normally in a given position with relation to the said shaft, substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination of the vehicle shafts, bars movable longitudinally thereon, an axle, rods connecting the said bars with the axle, a revolnble shaft extending across the said vehicle shafts, oppositely extending cranks on the respective ends of the said revoluble shaft, rods connecting the said cranks with the forward ends of the said bars, a foot crank or treadle, and a connection between the same and one of the bars, substantially as shown and described.

7. An improved sulky consisting of the shafts, bars movable longitudinally on the under side thereof, an axle, rods connecting the opposite ends of the axle with the respective bars, a revoluble shaft extending across the vehicle shafts, oppositely extending cranks at the respective ends of the said shaft, rods connecting the said crank with the forward ends of the bars, a double foot crank or treadle secured to the shaft to which one of the said bars is connected, and a spring for holding the said bars normallyin a given position, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of three witnesses.

HARRY A. MCIN'ITOSII. THEODORE \V. MGINTOSH.

Witnesses:

F. P. DYE,

WINTERs, MARIE MoIN'rosn. 

